Improving health with an holistic approach
AcuClinic was founded in Thessaloniki in order to offer high quality acupuncture services to its residents and visitors. We are committed to treating patients with respect and genuine interest to the health needs of the individual.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a therapeutic modality that is part of Chinese Medicine, a medical system that has been practiced for thousands of years in the far east and it continues to evolve following modern age requirements and adjusting to the needs of modern societies. The type of acupuncture offered at AcuClinic combines up-to-date scientific research with the traditional knowledge and experience of Chinese Medicine which comprise the foundation of this medical system.
Our therapeutic approach at AcuClinic is holistic, hence we focus on the individual and take into account the entirety of the patients’ health problems and medical history, instead of treating only the symptoms. This approach has the advantage of treating the root of the problem as well as other complaints that may seem unrelated and enhances the general state of wellbeing.
Acupuncture is a complementary therapy, which means that we work alongside with your medical practitioner and your on-going treatments or any medication you are taking.
At AcuClinic we collaborate with health practitioners of different specialties and we may refer you if necessary.
Introduction
Traditional Acupuncture is a form of therapy that originates in the far East and dates back more than 2500 years. Although acupuncture is an ancient form of treatment it is up to date now more than ever before. It looks at the patient as a whole and treats the person, not the disease. This is particularly useful in our modern society where stress, emotional problems and lifestyle often seem to overtake our health and wellbeing.
Being healthy in the context of holistic medicine means to be free from pain, to feel balanced physically, mentally and emotionally and to be able to live everyday life to its full potential. This can be achieved through regular acupuncture treatments and changes in diet and lifestyle, tailored to the individual patient.
Health is a multifactorial state that needs constant regulation. Multifactorial meaning that it is affected and determined by a large number of factors (inheritance or genetics, environment-climate, lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep, overwork, exercise, feelings and emotions, old or recent trauma, etc) that interfere and combine with each other to produce a subjective perception of wellbeing, accompanied by a set of symptoms, physical and psychological. In holistic medicine there is no divide between physical and psychological, no separation between body and emotions. They constantly interact and influence each other, even though some times it appears as though a physical imbalance is more prominent than an emotional imbalance and vice versa, or that one may be the cause for the other.
Chinese Medicine looks at the “big picture” and helps the organism find homeostasis, that is the tendency of the body to maintain a relatively stable equilibrium within its internal environment. This is done by enhancing circulation, eliminating stagnation, focusing on the important life functions rather than small details. For example, it is inevitable that we all sometimes experience situations that are unpleasant, unavoidable and cause deep or superficial suffering. Since it is often not possible to eliminate the cause of the suffering, finding balance is helping the person to deal with the problems in a more efficient way and increase the level of wellbeing and feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction on a daily basis.
Acupuncture, practiced by a knowledgable and experienced practitioner, is totally safe and effective for a huge range of conditions. It can be used for the whole family and throughout all stages of life: babies, children, adolescents, pregnant women, menopausal women and elderly people. If you would like to discuss your particular circumstances, please give me a call so we can advise you on how acupuncture can be helpful for you.
Acupuncture Sessions
Sessions are booked only by appointment at our clinic in the center of Thessaloniki. The first session may last up to an hour and a half as it includes the recording of your medical history. Follow-up sessions last up to an hour.
Each session includes an acupuncture treatment that lasts between 20 and 40 minutes (or less for very young children). The needles we use are single-use, extremely thin and of the highest quality, in order to minimise the pain of insertion and optimse the feeling of wellbeing during the session. The treatment is absolutely safe when practiced by a properly trained and experienced practitioner and the side effects that may present are rare, insignificant and short term (for example there may be minor bruises on the site of needling, lightheadedness or very occasionally it can exacerbate some symptoms for a few hours to a couple of days). Other techniques that may be used during your treatment are electroacupuncture, moxa (stimulation of acupuncture points with heat), cupping and acupressure.
Part of Chinese Medicine involves Dietetics, therefore you may be given nutritional advice if that is considered necessary. We suggest that you wear comfortable clothes and to have a light meal one or two hours before the session (it is best to avoid having acupuncture with an empty stomach or when you are too full). It is also a requirement that you avoid alcohol before and after the session.
Clinic times
AcuClinic is open from Monday to Friday 09:00-21:00, sessions are booked only by appointment.
Contact
If you want to discuss how acupuncture can help you or you would like to book an appointment please call 2310 234381
Due to the particular circumstances of the COVID19 pandemic you are required to wear a mask at all times during your visit to the clinic (we will provide you) and you will be asked to disinfect your hands when you enter. All safety precautions are being followed as required by law.
CV
Orly Barziv was born and raised in Thessaloniki. Her first degree is in Physics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and went on to 4 years of postgraduate studies in Astrophysics in Holland and Germany up to 1999.
In 2000 she started studying Chinese Medicine at the Hellenic Academy of Chinese Medicine until 2006 and then went on to pursue a BSc(Hons) in “Traditional Chinese Medicine: Acupuncture” at the University of Westminster in London (2009). She has a diploma in Shiatsu from “Natural Health Sciences” in Athens (2006). She has followed numerous seminars-Continuing Professional Development courses in Europe relating to different types of Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine and other therapeutic techniques.
She has specialised in gynaecology, pregnancy and gestation, paediatrics, pain management, auricular therapy and symptom management for cancer patients.
More specifically, she has trained in Applied Channel Theory by Dr Wang Ju Yi with Jason Robertson and Jonathan Chang, in Shonishin Japanese paediatric acupuncture (without the use of needles that penetrate the skin) with Stephen Birch, in gynaecology with Debra Betts and Sarah Budd, in Internal Medicine with Volker Scheid, Cinzia Scorzon and Vita Revelli, in auricular acupuncture with John Tindall, etc.
Orly has worked at a private hospital, a cancer charity clinic and private clinics in London. She has delivered presentations on acupuncture in hospitals and societies.
Member of professional associations
Conditions that can be treated with acupuncture
Acupuncture is recommended for the treatment of a wide variety of conditions, acute or chronic. An holistic approach ensures the treatment of the underlying causes of the disease along with the current complaints, while enhancing a feeling of wellbeing and improving the general state of health of the individual. In cases of incurable or degenerative diseases acupuncture helps to manage the symptoms and delay the progress of the disease.
Acupuncture helps with pain from multiple causes, reduces stress and anxiety, enhances circulation of the vital energy in the body and strengthens the bodies’ physiological processes. In holistic medicine the body and the emotions are interwoven, therefore an improvement of physical symptoms is accompanied by emotional stability and vice versa.
Here is an indicative list of conditions that acupuncture can help resolve
- Allergic rhinitis
- Dysentery, gastritis, abdominal pain
- Gynaecology, Pregnancy and gestation
- Neuralgia, toothache
- Headaches
- Low back pain
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Post operative pain
- Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis
- Side effects of cancer treatments
- Sleep disorders & Stress
Below you can find summaries of research publications of the therapeutic potential of acupuncture on various conditions, as summoned by the British Acupuncture Council research group.
Another category of disease where acupuncture is most helpful are conditions that do not fall under a specific medical diagnosis; medical examinations show nothing abnormal, but yet the patient feels unwell. Very often through Chinese Medicine these syndromes can be fully explained and treated successfully.
The prognosis of an acupuncture treatment is determined by several factors, most importantly the depth and the severity of the presenting condition, the health background (strength of the immune system) of the individual, their age and lifestyle (diet, sleep, exercise etc). This will be discussed at the first consultation so you can get an idea of how long your treatment will last.
If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment please call 2310234381 or leave a written message in the communication box.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a form of holistic therapy that uses very fine needles to stimulate specific points on the body. The treatment reestablishes optimal circulation of the vital energy (Qi) and release any blockages that cause the disease. It is based on Chinese Medicine, a self-sustained medical system that has been used in the Far East for over two thousand years. In the last century acupuncture became very popular in the West due to its impressive therapeutic results with difficult cases and hence it was adopted, taught and practiced by medics and health practitioners. Nowadays, acupuncture is widely popular among people who use it to improve their health. Acupuncture is also studied, taught and researched in many universities around the world.
Does acupuncture hurt?
The needles we use at AcuClinic are extremely fine and of the highest quality in order to minimize the pain of insertion. Fine needles combined with many years of experience at AcuClinic guarantees a deeply relaxing and painless treatment. In the majority of cases there is no pain at all, however some points are more sensitive and few people may feel some sensation at the moment of the insertion, which would last fractions of a second or a few seconds at most. For some patients, fear and/or the expectation of pain may make them anxious in the first session but they quickly get used to the procedure and enjoy unwinding and the relaxation that almost always accompanies an acupuncture treatment.
Is acupuncture safe? What are the side effects?
Acupuncture is totally safe when practiced by a properly trained and experienced
practitioner. Side effects are rare and temporary, like a minor bruise at the needling site, lightheadedness after the first session, very occasionally exacerbation of some symptoms for a few hours. Compared to other therapeutic modalities acupuncture is one of the safest with the least side effects.
How many treatments will I need?
The outcome of an acupuncture treatment depends on the strength of the individual’s
immune system and on how chronic (or acute) or severe the problem is. Often patients experience an immediate improvement while others start to feel better after a few regular treatments. Some factors that affect this response are complexity and depth of the condition in combination with age and background health issues.
A course of seven treatments is often recommended to initiate a significant improvement. Some cases may need less than that. However, some deep-rooted and chronic conditions may require several courses. Often improvement may be noticed after one or two treatments. In all cases, it is very important to keep your treatments regular (once, twice or three times per week as indicated by your personalized treatment plan) in order to maximize the efficacy of the therapy. Once the condition has stabilized and the symptoms are settled, the frequency of the treatments will decrease accordingly (every two weeks or once a month) for maintenance and to prevent a relapse.
After the initial consultation, the treatment plan that best suits you will be outlined.
Sometimes it is important that the patient actively contributes to the treatment by doing some mild exercise, following personalised diet recommendations or incorporating life-style changes.
How can acupuncture help me?
Acupuncture is an holistic therapy, therefore it can help in many conditions, and the improvement is felt both physically and psychologically. Acupuncture acts on the central nervous system and can therefore support the organism in a variety of different conditions, treat them or manage their symptoms. Do not hesitate to give us a call to discuss your specific condition and whether acupuncture is a good option for you.
